Published on
May 21, 2016

The chunks of debris included an uninflated life vest, a seat, a purse, shoes, carpet, a scarf, parts of chairs and cushions and a sling bag. The EgyptAir label appeared on one piece of wreckage.

Shoukry said the searchers are pressing on, but it isn’t clear how long it will take to recover the cockpit voice and flight data recorders — the so-called black boxes — to find out what happened.

The United States, France, Britain, Russia and others are eager to cooperate in the search, Shoukry said, adding he anticipates assistance in finding the recorders.

“We do not, I think, have the technical abilities to operate in such deep waters, whereas many of our partners might have this facility,” he said.

On Friday, EgyptAir and Greek officials said that searchers found seats, personal belongings, and a body part. The Egyptian military said it discovered debris about 290 kilometres (180 miles) north of Alexandria, Egypt.

No survivors have been found. Egyptian officials have said they suspect the crash was caused by an act of terror, but no group has come forward to claim credit.